NCLEX in 2 Weeks.Taking kaplan... Feeling Panicky.

tayp1991 · Jun 9, 2015

I didn't do the Kaplan Q Trainers, but I did do several other sources for questions (Evolve EAQ, NSCBN Review, Mosby's Review Cards, Kaplan Premiere Book Practice Test, LaCharity PDA). I took the NCLEX yesterday and I have an active RN license in the state of Indiana today!

As far as lab values go, I would definitely KNOW the basics (H&H, WBC, Platelets, PT/PTT/INR, BUN, Creat, and ABG's. Know how to apply interventions based on an ABG result, not just interpret the values.

If you are doing 100-300 questions/day, you are preparing well. DON'T worry about the pharm generics, you will see them, yes, but you will recognize them, I promise you! I only had on question with a med in it that I did not immediately recognize but it was presented in a context that I could kind of figure it out. Know the basic drug classes, know which drugs are toxic to what (the big ones), and leave it at that. Don't try to memorize all the meds because it simply is impossible. Besides, the NCLEX people know when we are practicing RN's we will have access to resources for meds.

KNOW and I mean KNOW infection control and safety, it is a big portion of the NCLEX test plan. Focus on your weak areas, and don't study stuff you already KNOW! When I walked into the test, I honestly felt like there was nothing I could have done to be more prepared than I was. I had reviewed the content, I had done 5000+ questions, and read rationales, I had practiced as a graduate nurse. When my screen went blank at 75, I felt CONFIDENT, it wasn't until a few hours AFTER the test that I felt bad about it. I literally made myself sick with worry, trying to analyze the difficulty of the questions I got. Don't worry about it! If you are practicing questions and reviewing the rationales, and you have a firm grasp on content you will do fine! I would recommend perhaps using an additional source for questions, as the questions I got on NCLEX did not mirror Kaplan, I found the Kaplan questions in the book I had were much more difficult than NCLEX questions. =) The closest questions for me were probably the NCSBN review. You will do fine. As long as you are preparing, you are doing well! It is the one's who say, "I'm not going to study," who worry me. You will be an RN before you know it! =) Good Luck!

bonniekate89 · Jun 9, 2015

Thank you so much Tay!!

That is very good to hear. The Kaplan decision tree isn't particularly making much difference to me as I'm already able to think through things. So it's taking longer, and making me confused!! I think I'll focus on content areas I'm weak in and doing questions rather than learn this new technique. I passed nursing school without it! I should be able to pass the NCLEX without it right??

Definitely need to look at LaCharity too. I have it, but have been focusing so much on Kaplan... time for new stuff!

Thanks so much for replying. I'm already feeling better! Congrats on your RN. That's SO AWESOME!!! And wow- you found out fast! Here in VA I don't think we will find out that fast..

scaredsilly, BSN, RN · Jun 10, 2015

I have been on these forums for over a year and these are some of the best Kaplan scores I have seen! Panic is normal...stress is normal. is an (insert really dirty word) because the boards he had to take two days before NCLEX were a piece of cake compared to NCLEX is normal (at least for me) lol. I passed with way lower scores than that. Try to relax.